Attina and Orpheus had already searched several of the more secluded favourite spots of the chaos duo, which had now probably become a trio, but had not found anything. They had actually ruled out the possibility that the three of them, in their sensational combination, would go among the sea people. But now that they had searched all the places that might have come into question, they no longer wanted to disregard the possibility. Secretly they hoped that the three of them had done just that, because it meant that they were not in too dangerous an environment and that there would be plenty of people from Atlantea on hand should something happen.
So the two finally made their way to the town at the foot of the palace.
Attina had no eyes for the merchants' wares on display that day, and even the greetings of delighted citizens bounced off her without her really noticing the friendly gesture. Her eyes wandered through the crowds, trying to spot Ares among all the hustle and bustle. Suddenly she thought she saw his auburn head of hair flashing in the hustle and bustle in front of her. She quickly rushed to the spot where she thought he was, only to be sobered to discover that the supposed hair was an anemone arrangement from a florist.
"Oh, good afternoon, Princess. Are you interested in one of my bouquets? This one, perhaps? I will also make you a very special price. You will not regret it. My bouquets are the longest-lasting you'll find anywhere in Atlantica. Oh, what am I saying, in all seven seas! Go ahead, go ahead, pick one," the merchant immediately spoke to her, holding out to her the very compilation with the orange-tinted tentacles that she had mistaken for her son.
"Did you see the crown prince swim by here?" she asked, without commenting on the goods on offer. Orpheus was just coming hurrying back to her side when the merchant shook his head regretfully.
"I am sorry, your highness, I have not seen the prince again since his return. However, I wish the best for him and you," the merchant replied. Attina swam on without answering, continuously glancing frantically right and left.
"Would you like to buy a beautiful flower arrangement for your wife?" the merchant tried his luck on Orpheus, who looked anxiously after Attina. She had to calm down at last. It couldn't be healthy the way she was pressuring herself.
He didn't want to upset the merchant, so he dug out the appropriate amount and reached for the anemone shell. The vendor was still thanking him profusely when Orpheus hurried back behind his wife with the flowerpot tucked under his arm. He was worried too, but Attina's nerves were so frayed that by now he was almost more worried about her than about his son, who was in the company of two good friends who would certainly not put Ares in danger.
"Attina! Now please calm down," he tried to get through to her again, but in vain. Her eyes became more and more panic-stricken, searching the crowd in vain. Orpheus had finally had enough. He handed the pot to a puzzled merman and swam to Attina. When he reached her, he grabbed her wrists energetically and turned her towards him with determination.
"Enough now!" he became louder, finally getting through to her. He didn't like to reach through so hard, but there was no point otherwise. Attina had become far too lost in her panic for simple words and gestures to get through to her. When she held still, he finally took her face in his hands.
"Calm down. What do you want people to think? You've been so strong all this time, don't turn the pride they feel for you into pity. Ares is all right. We'll find him soon. Inhale... exhale... Again. That's it," he now spoke calmly to her again and at last it helped. Attina followed his instructions until she could think clearly again. Orpheus was right. She had to be a role model for the inhabitants of Atlantica, that was one of her most important tasks and she had just neglected exactly that.
"I'm sorry," she begged.
"Stop apologising," he said with a stern face.
That's exactly what made Attina laugh. It was such a characteristic reaction of his. Something she loved him for. Orpheus was her anchor, she knew that. But he was not only hers, he was also the royal house's. He was more aware of his position than probably anyone else, with the possible exception of her father. The man Orpheus respected and admired above all else. She remembered what she had wanted for Ares before all these terrible things had happened and still hoped, as she had then, that her son would take after one or even both of these men she loved so much when his reign began.
"I love you," she said and breathed a kiss on his cheek, softening his still stern countenance.
"There!" he suddenly groaned unexpectedly, pointing behind Attina.
She immediately turned around and followed your gesture. At last she caught sight of what she had been searching for so doggedly all this time. There, just a few stalls away from them, was the ray leading the way through the crowd. On his back was her son, as he had been when Orpheus had returned with them. Attina's heart gave a leap of relief, but shortly afterwards it clenched again. She just didn't want Ares to be friends with that ray.
"ARES!" she shouted angrily over the heads of the other market-goers.
"Uh-oh," Anaya remarked, giving the other two an uncertain look. Should they attempt an escape and further incite the obvious rage of Ares' mother, or just surrender to their inevitable fate and let the storm that was heading their way wash over them?
The boys seemed to have already made their decision, as they shot off the very next moment, regardless of losses. Anaya also came to the conclusion that this was probably the better choice, after all they had dragged Phobos into it. She knew how the telling off usually turned out for Ares and her, but the young mermaid did not want to imagine what would happen to the ray if they got their hands on it.
"No," Attina breathed in horror as she saw the risky escape manoeuvres the three made through the crowd. She was about to follow them when she was held back by one of her wrists.
"Wait, let me do it," Orpheus suggested and Attina realised that this was probably the better solution for the moment.
She glared after her husband until she could no longer see him.
Orpheus tried to remain calm on the outside, but the ray's manoeuvres did not leave him cold either. He had been wrong about him after all. After all, he was putting Ares in great danger. He tried to let the three of them think they had escaped for the time being, even though he still had a close eye on them. They should give up this ill-considered escape as soon as possible. But his tactics did not seem to be crowned with success either. He watched in horror as the ray cut a corner far too sharply for his son to be able to stay on it in his current condition. Anaya's startled cry reached his ears as he rushed to the scene of the accident.
Phobos was already several metres away when he noticed with horror that something was missing from his back. He looked back and saw Ares on the ground. He was not moving.
Had he now killed the crown prince?
He didn't dare come closer. Ares' father was already with his son and Anaya. Phobos earned a disappointed look from him before turning back to Ares. This clearly signalled to the ray that he had missed his chance and had better not approach any further.
"Ares?" asked Orpheus. The crown prince had squeezed his eyes shut convulsively and was somehow trying to fight the pain that had flared up after the impact. Finally, however, he could stand it no longer and verbally gave in to the agony he was suffering. Ares' screams pierced the ears of everyone present. Several glances turned around. Phobos winced. It was all his fault.
Orpheus had carefully lifted his son and was now trying to shift him into a position where his pain was more bearable. Soothingly he stroked his back and after a few minutes the crown prince's pain seemed to have subsided to a bearable level. Ares mumbled an apology to his father's chest and ashamedly buried his face to avoid the reproving gaze.
"I hope you have all learned your lesson from this," Orpheus added to his son's apology.
Anaya looked back and forth indecisively between her new friend and Ares' father. What should she do now to defuse the situation? Could she do anything at all?
"If you want to help, take him away from here," Orpheus' voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Anaya's gaze fell on the pile of misery that was Phobos a few metres away from them.
"But..." she tried to argue.
"Anaya, even I, after this action, can't do anything with those who have to decide whether he should be allowed to stay here any longer. It is best for everyone if he leaves the city of his own accord," he spoke out what they all suspected but refused to believe.
The young mermaid realised, however, that Ares' father was right, as he often was, and that he was absolutely right about the situation. It would do Phobos no good to linger any longer in Atlantica, he had to go, and he had to go now, at this moment.
"I understand," she said with a heavy heart, turning to Phobos.
"Take him outside the city limits and then swim home without making any detours. I will have to let your parents know about this. I think it would be better if you were home by then," Orpheus demanded.
Anaya nodded and then swam to Phobos.
"Come," was the only thing she managed when she reached him. Phobos took one last sad look at Ares and his father before turning and following Anaya without complaint.
They swam in silence behind each other for quite a while, getting further and further away from the centre of the city. The dwellings became more and more sparse until they had finally swum for a long time over the uninhabited and uncultivated seabed. When even the palace was but a small barely glimpsed spire in the distance, Anaya stopped and turned to Phobos.
"This is where our paths must part, I'm afraid," she said, and Phobos sensed that there was so much more she wanted to say but couldn't bring herself to without bursting into tears.
"Farewell, Anaya," he said goodbye and she turned back towards the city.
Phobos regarded her sad form for a brief moment before giving in to the urge to give her a few last words.
"Thank you. Thank you for this wonderful day. However short it may have been, I have never been so happy as I have been with you both. Please keep an eye on Ares for me. I will never forget you," he said, making Anaya stop. She turned back to him and Phobos could see that she was crying hard. She suddenly swam back towards him and took him in her arms.
"You will be our friend forever. I hope we can meet again someday. We will also never forget you. Ares will bring you back! He has promised you, he will keep his word as Crown Prince and if it takes until he wears the crown himself, we will meet again!" she spoke with conviction.
"We will," Phobos replied and then pulled away from the embrace.
Anaya wiped the tears from her face and gave him what she fervently hoped was only her last smile for now.
They both finally turned in opposite directions and swam away.
Phobos spent the rest of the day and all of the night lingering around the city's borders. When he grew tired, he dug himself into the sand, but did not let go of watching the luminous little dot that was the palace at this advanced hour in the vast dark sea until his eyes fell shut.
It was not until the next morning that he could bring himself to turn his back on the city in which he had placed all his hopes and set off for his unloved homeland.
He had a long journey ahead of him before he would have to deal with his relatives again. Phobos was in no hurry to cover the distance. He took all the time in the world to take in every little detail that delighted his eyes. Once he was back with his family, the memories of these little things would probably be the only bright spots.
At a fork in the road, he paused. His direct route led him further south, but the sign pointing east suddenly seemed much more appealing. Why shouldn't he take a little diversions? After all, there wasn't really anyone waiting for him. The instructions for him had only been to leave Atlantica's territory. He had left the border behind him long ago. No one here could order him to swim back to his fellow species immediately.
So Phobos decided to swim east for the time being and extend his exploration even further.
The days passed and Phobos did not regret his decision. The sea had so many wonderful places to offer, each more beautiful than the next. But it saddened him that he had to make this journey alone. How he would have liked to have the two sea children by his side. His thoughts were almost always with them, even when he discovered something new that caught his attention, it didn't take long before he longed for his two friends.
His curiosity drove him into rock crevices and giant sea grass pastures. Again and again he startled sea creatures who fled in panic as soon as they realised that a ray had invaded their habitat. Phobo's sincere apology for his uninvited intrusion was usually no longer heard.
It was already late when he looked for a place to sleep when he noticed something that struck him as more than strange.
A beautiful merman with a filigree, three-coloured fin was swimming a little away from him through the dawn. He gave the impression of having lost his bearings and was looking for the next waypoint on the map he carried. In his desperation, he did not seem to notice that two shadows were following him. Two shadows that, on closer inspection, Phobos knew all too well.
Cloak and Dagger!
What were his cousins doing here?
What did they want from the Lione?
Phobos didn't know, but he could guess it wouldn't be anything good, after all, the two were acting on behalf of the Sea Witch.
All thoughts of sleep were suddenly void. They were still far from Atlantica here but still close enough that it was a threat that the two rays were here. No matter what their mission, Phobos vowed to thwart it. He would never allow Ares or his family to be harmed by his.
So he resolutely sat down behind the other two and eventually three shadows hovered behind the unsuspecting messenger from Liones.